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In Memoriam: Sydney Chaplin

March 5, 2009

Sydney Chaplin, whose father was Charlie Chaplin, died on Tuesday, at age eighty-two. He was an actor; he won a Tony award for his work in “Bells Are Ringing” (in the film version, the role was filled by Dean Martin). He appeared in a pair of his father’s films, “Limelight” and “A Countess from Hong Kong.” The latter, from 1967 (which I wrote about at the time of its DVD release), is Charlie Chaplin’s last film. The director plays only a bit part in it, and confers the male lead upon Marlon Brando, who is perhaps the only actor who could match Chaplin’s blend of nobility, carnality, and freedom. (Brando chafed under Chaplin’s exacting direction.) It’s a profound, restrained love story (Brando’s co-star is Sophia Loren), and Sydney Chaplin has a dignified supporting role. The much-maligned film is a treasure; it’s available on a pair of differentreleases.